Tahitian Influenced 8 String Ukulele Build

A over the shoulder view of my 8 String 'Kohoi' build in the 'shed'. Made mostly from upcycled Rimu. Influenced by Tahitian/ Cook Island Ukulele/Banjo's, with my own design and scale length.
Basic plans here: mikehawkey.com/projects/kohoi...
Music by longzijun ('Hidden Place' and 'Dreams') - Thanks.

[@sammitchell4495]

Oh my god, that is gorgeous! Great work, mike!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@CowboyX1000]

Fantastic! It makes my CBGs seem crude. I think I learned a few new things watching that build. Thanks.

[@MikeHawkey]

thanks for the kind words. cigar box guitars rock. something I'll build another of when i get time.

[@ZvikaDror]

Awesome! This is briliant design with en edge :) Thanks for sharing!

[@MikeHawkey]

Zvika Dror thanks!

[@FirstnameLastname-bp5cm]

Your videos are fun to watch. Nice edit and really cool builds! Great work.

[@MikeHawkey]

thanks!

[@ScrapwoodCity]

Beautiful instrument! Awesome work!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@konnorzayn5097]

I know Im kind of off topic but do anyone know a good place to watch newly released movies online ?

[@cameronjacob3736]

@Konnor Zayn try flixzone. You can find it on google :)

[@Blackfoxsteam]

Great job and a fine video. I admire how you did it all- even cutting your own fret slots. Beautiful finish on the wood.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. After a bit of practice fret slots are not so daunting. I think the measure measure cut rule works well there (As I found on an earlier project where I had mis-measured somehow...).

[@leemccomish1923]

Lots of ideas and tips in that video, thank you for posting.

[@MikeHawkey]

No problem

[@MrAndyballard]

You make amazing Ukes man, and a CB200 in your garage too, you have exceedingly good taste sir !

[@wilhelmtutunik4306]

Wonderful! Beautiful! Wow!

[@aWildJosh213]

Cool! I love 8 stringed ukuleles!

[@masonomasono]

Looks awesome! It has a very cool percussion sound to it too.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@leovonfitzy]

Looks and sounds really bloody good! Great work! :)

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@capnskustomworks]

Beautiful work, brethren!

[@MikeHawkey]

Cheers!

[@Mikhandmaker]

Awesome! I love it

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@Ukobold]

Nice job, well done, nice result !

[@MikeHawkey]

Cheers!

[@fabriziocroce3242]

Very good, fantastic, superb!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thank you!

[@zanusbluesman]

beautiful. I really like the design of the headstock

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. Often the Tahitian style has the reverse of this, but I think this way aligns strings better, and felt right to me design wise.

[@dorothykelly8924]

Watched from start to finish. Stunning instrument. My son bought me an eight stringed carved Fijian ukelele with the fishing green luminous strings when he was in Fiji. It sounds so different from my soprano uke. I will have to learn to play it like you. Wonderful.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. They are a different sound, but I do really like them. I used to play in a little group and the different tone was quite complimentary. Enjoy yours!

[@garrisonstanleigh6146]

GREAT JOB .. You make it look easy :-)

[@carlosorlandochamorro2109]

Maravilloso trabajo amigo.

[@shaneelliott333]

this is the most impressive thing i’ve ever witnessed

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. One go my favourite builds still.

[@billalbert7291]

Have returned from Papeete, Tahiti a few weeks ago and was totally in awe of the locals playing these instruments. Don’t have the tools or talent to build one but should have bought one when I was there! This is indeed a huge project and you did this beautifully.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thank you! Depending where you are in the world, there is a guy on Facebook, Asonu, whom produces some amazing looking instruments for sale. They are a fun instrument to play.

[@zetamen8812]

Excelente

[@JustClaude13]

I like what you did with the peg head. Very cool. The CB200 is a nice bike in flat country. I had one. Didn't like hills or headwinds, but on the flats it was a sweetheart.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks Claude. Yes, the CB200 was my father's from new. He rode it a few years and then put it under his house. I cleaned it up (a lot) and put it back on the road a few years back. As you say, not the strongest performer in hills and headwinds, but a fun little bike for local riding (which is all I tend to do).

[@68able2]

awesome job man

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@CircuitsAndStrings]

really awesome.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks Daniel!

[@ssbnman1630]

Beautiful!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks

[@JonuhOfficial]

So nice

[@neraben]

awesome video and very cool bike!!

[@MikeHawkey]

thanks!

[@user-yj6jh2vv6o]

You can look at three things endlessly: how the fire burns, how the water flows, and how others work. ;)))

[@MikeHawkey]

Nice quote! - my viewing habits would totally agree! Thanks for stopping by

[@pebrito]

nice video, very good job, in this time of tecnologie, to make a manual job is fantastic.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thank you

[@alexisj.4544]

Hermoso instrumento, gran trabajo

[@bearshield7138]

sweet job

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@user-yc9sl2ve7r]

Total zen inside and out

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@DAT90sKID]

Love the stile man

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@rogerking5434]

Thank you, Mike - using your supplied drawings, my last (PNW) winter project turned out be a wonderful learning experience. African Mahogany, sound board of curly Maple and imitation red abalone fret dots - I call mine "A au hi" FIRE. Credited you on my Facebook Roger King/Ukulele Build Project.

[@MikeHawkey]

Sounds nice! - great that you did a build based on the drawings. Thanks!

[@PaulLieberman]

Absolutely gorgeous. I've begun work on one, copying your design. My skills are still crude but I'm learning.

[@MikeHawkey]

Great! - all skills start somewhere. Hope it goes well!

[@PaulLieberman]

@@MikeHawkey here it is - music.paullieberman.net/content/home-made-tahitian-style-uke -

[@robertoadrianpapaleoemateg7469]

Thank you..Master Luthier Mike...

[@MikeHawkey]

To kind, but thank you! :)

[@raulsalazar5864]

good job it's awesome

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@nathanjasper512]

Glad you got that laundry footage. I would have been worried the whole time about whether your clothes got dry.

[@MikeHawkey]

I know right ;)

[@stephanieguillot3477]

Du talent !! Super travail !! Je vais essayer d’en faire un moi aussi, merci pour cette vidéo !!

[@MikeHawkey]

Bonne chance et merci!

[@allenmorgan2591]

wow wow so cool

[@MikeHawkey]

ALLEN MORGAN thanks!

[@panchoatabake]

Congrats! It sounds very similar to a charango. Greetings from Chile.

[@sakapurnama5048]

awesome 👍

[@MikeHawkey]

thanks

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@isetta4083]

Whenever I could hear Queen in the background I thought I was hallucinating, I heard extracts from at least 4 songs

[@MikeHawkey]

Apart from not really working with final edits, I wish I could just have my music running throughout as I listened to it when building... but alas copywrite.

[@zaphirocast225]

que lindo, hermoso su sonido

[@badhonmike8815]

so beautiful looking, but really tinn y sound.

[@MikeHawkey]

A few factors at play - one being my Sony's less than perfect sound recording. But the high CE tuning and very small volume for sound makes this a typical characteristic of Tahitian Ukuleles. If you youtube a few other production models, mine sounds the same in person - I just may not have captured on film. Thanks!

[@rjbiz9120]

Really enjoyed you Video. You have done really nice job I make Ukulele on CNC Might have to write a program to cut one of those , looks cool Thanks

[@MikeHawkey]

Sounds fun! thanks for the comment.

[@natvan5869]

Wasn't expecting the Holden sheet over the bike but uke looks rad

[@MikeHawkey]

Cheers. Yeah, sheet was just something laying around I used for dust cover...been intending to make a custom one for years now!

[@LukePettit3dArtist]

Nice!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thank you!

If you could build an 10 strings (5x2) ukulele, it becomes into charango.

[@MikeHawkey]

One day maybe!

[@alansturgess1324]

Would love to see and hear one of those as a baritone with the tuning DGBE . . . or how about adopting the 12 string idea for a uke with, say, the DG strings as octaves? Now THERE'S a project. Great job. Very unusual.

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks! I like the idea (and would dread my limited playing skill sound demo haha)

[@alvaliable]

pretty :3

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@md.moinulislam9467]

MASHAALLAH khub valo

[@MikeHawkey]

Dhan'yabāda

[@AnowarHossain-lp2xf]

Nice

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@m.m.4370]

nice!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks

[@m.m.4370]

you sell?

[@MikeHawkey]

I occasionally sell when I need to make space for new ones at home I build. Nothing to sell at the moment sorry.

[@m.m.4370]

alright thanks

[@lenisrousaruisteein8844]

Lindo proyecto lindo instrumento te felicito gran trabajo

[@andybusch9606]

That sounds really beautiful! And it looks great? Is there somewhere a person can find plans or instructions to make one?

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. Still one of my favourites that I will rebuild again in the future as this one found a new home. Very basic plan here: mikehawkeydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/kohoi-8-string-by-mike-hawkey.pdf Good luck with build!

[@isaacconley4005]

So it's basically a madouke mandolin ukulele that's badass

[@MikeHawkey]

Pretty much. The core difference is the tuning of GGCCEEAA vs the mando GGDDAAEE and also that its fluorocarbon vs steel string. Some also refer to these as Tahitian Banjo's. Ultimately, they are all closely related instruments - the Tahitian Ukulele is just a very new sibling in the family tree. Thanks.

[@DumbassGarage]

the mando-ukule-lin

[@moosetopherrobin6147]

I always liked 'mandolele', myself.

[@DumbassGarage]

@@moosetopherrobin6147 shit thats better

[@cmjudco]

Nice...I love the 8 strings! Great job....I want to make a baritone one!! You don't happen to have any plans do you?

[@MikeHawkey]

Sounds good. Hope the build goes well! - here is a basic plan one could scale for baritone: mikehawkeydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/kohoi-8-string-by-mike-hawkey.pdf thanks for stopping by!

[@chirstchurchNZ]

dude thats so cool omg i want it hahaha do you ever sell any of your products?

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. Occasionally I do. This one is actually one such example. Sellers remorse - I'll have to make version 2.0 haha

[@SwissHeadbanger]

Great job, I'm impressed! Just one question: where did you order the frets?

[@MikeHawkey]

SwissHeadbanger thanks. In this case I ordered from stewmac, but lots of sellers on ebay. also if you have a local guitar shop or repairer they should have some. On a budget I have also made them from wire and nails in the past.

[@user-ul6wb5do1u]

Крутая получилась балалайка!

[@MikeHawkey]

большое спасибо

[@loveslovecraft]

Awesome vid and amazing build! Great tone and the volume is very impresive!Three questions if I may. What adhesive are you using to attach the backplate and what adhesive for the nut and bridge? Most importantly to me is what stain are you using? Right now I'm in love with boiled linseed oil but I need to expand my horizons.

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi, glue wise the back was polyurethane glue . I've generally moved away from using it, but it has its benefits. Nut was from memory superglue /cyanoacrylate. Finish was thinned down polyurethane varnish. Lately I'm quite liking linseed beeswax paste. Not as protective but feels great and applies easy (and looks good). Thanks

[@loveslovecraft]

Thanks sooo much! I am digging your other videos as well. Sparking my creative juices for sure!

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks!

[@dominickwhite6295]

It's a beautiful build! What was the song you were playing at the end, however? I'd love to give it a try on my own uke, or if you have the chords to it.

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi. Thanks. The two main ones I played at the end were one of my own little ditties im half done on, and then a version of when I'm 64 (which is prob the one you are looking for)- tabs should be on one of the main free uke tab sites; but I can dig out if you can't find. Cheers

[@renotitawano1407]

Great movie! It's so hard to find Tahitian Ukes, especially in Europe. At the end, I've ordered one custom made in Indonesia (Pelem Ukuleles). I use fishing line (Fluor Carbon) 0.45mm/30lbs. What type of "strings" do you use? I love the sharp sound from yours, mine is a little warmer which I normally like, but hey it's a Tahitian Uke, so it should sound snappy (if that's the right word for it 🙂 ).

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks! I had 25lbs fluro (fishing) on this one. The body is on the far end of slim which I think adds to the ‘snappiness’. This one is with a new owner, but i miss it so have plans for a new version I will make after I complete a handful of other projects!

[@TutaiJessie]

Awesome work, question what size/type string is that can you show me a picture of the strings you have

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi. Following traditional Tahatian uke builds, strings are 20lb fluorocarbon aka quality fishing line. Actually the same material as many strings on the market. Approximately the diameter of the A string. Thanks!

[@sryanrussell]

Would it have been easier to use Mandolin Tuning Pegs? I guess possibly, but that would be beyond your scope of upcycling what you have. Great build!

[@MikeHawkey]

Absolutely. I might just do that in the future on a v3.0. Budget wise I think the singles can be picked up cheaper and with some more design options (for the price), but getting a 4 a side tuning setup would make for easier mounting. Thanks!

[@souvikmajumder6729]

OK,thanks

[@choloramirez3944]

beautiful!!! great job!!! Do you have the plans in pdf to share? I would love to be able to make one similar to yours

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi, Sorry for delay - I keep meaning to link plans in the description, which I have now done. Good luck with your build!

[@vignoble2675]

One tip if you carved whit a foster bit the hole body and just por a tap sounds even deper right there you a waistline half of the Sound leaving so mush wood unused detween mauth and neck give it some day a try and instead of one hole just try to carv everything inside leaving 1/4 of an inch all the contour of the body and put a aveto tap or ceder bout very sonorous woods you are going to noticed a big very big sound quality change , excellent job if yo ever come to Baja cal plis stop by .

[@MikeHawkey]

Many thanks. Ive made something similar to what you describe for a friend (no video). This design was keeping with the Cook Island design tradition, but agreed, for a different and fuller sounds, bigger cavity. Being the tuning is quite high octave on these, they carry sound surprisingly well for a small cavity - bass would be useless though.

[@Bueben91]

like a charango!

[@MikeHawkey]

Must be in the family tree of string instruments!

[@mclarenmig]

hey mike, awesome video! just a little question. whats de diametre of that hole saw? thanks

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. 99% I used my largest which is 130mm. If you had a router however, its not too difficult to make a jig or template up to cut that size or larger. Thanks.

[@lioncash5218]

😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🤩🤩🤩🤩

[@clayholloway7769]

Beautiful work brother. Where are you based?

[@MikeHawkey]

Thank you. I’m down in New Zealand.

[@ToddFisher42]

I do notice that you have just used a piece of wood you had lying around. You wouldn't happen to know what type of wood and where you would get it or something similar would you? From NZ as well and I love this design. I made one using this design using just some standard timber but definitely doesn't look as good as yours. Also made it as one and sanded away

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi, It was some probably 30-40 year old Rimu from the house - just nice old wood. One up cycled way of getting wood like it is old perhaps damaged furniture no one wants. There are some specialist wood suppliers around, but you do pay for it. Occasionally on Trademe, smaller bits good for projects like this sold too. Cool to hear you have made one. Still one of my favourites of all the designs Ive made. Thanks!

[@fernandocolom9288]

Tremendo charango

[@MikeHawkey]

Gracias

[@lesliebrown1527]

Wow

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks for the wow

[@dinoilcagnolino3213]

Beautiful work. Complements. Can you tell me what the nut is made of. Thanks

[@MikeHawkey]

Many thanks. Nut made from bone on this unit. Thanks.

[@tlbelknap]

Very cool. What did you use for strings?

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. Strings are fluorocarbon aka fishing line 20lb. Although Im sure different grade, a lot of uke strings on the market are also flurocarbon - just usually a more sedate color. From what I gather all traditional Tahitian Uke's use fishing line - but that was probably more an availability thing than technical choice.

[@tokyantv]

buenas como se llama el instrumento.? gracias..

[@ruktaratarktar6910]

how much time did you take to make this ukulele ? because i want to make one or two with a swiss friend that is good with the wood, thanks for your answer.

[@MikeHawkey]

HI. I made it over several weeks outside of work and when free in weekends. Planned right with two on the job and depending on glue and finish one might be able to build over a long weekend. Good luck!

[@josebarichello3028]

Ukulele ficou bunito parese a quele estrumento antigo que chama alaude parese

[@MikeHawkey]

Talvez um dia eu construa.

[@ellieheath2479]

Hi! I love your stuff! Is there anywhere where you sell it? I would love to have something like this

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi, I occasionally sell bits and pieces but nothing currently sorry.

[@kienanhuard3394]

Awesome instrument. How long did it take to build?

[@MikeHawkey]

[57th]_Col_搾乳される thanks! I built it over the course of a few weeks in between work and family duties. depending on one's skill levels I think it could be largely done over a long weekend - depending on finish choice and glue type.

[@OzzieWozzieOriginal]

No wonder, I cant make my own, needs a hundred over tools and parts But why it has a metallic sound??

[@MikeHawkey]

With a modification of the plans, it could be made with a simple coping saw (of if have power, a cheap jigsaw) and 1 drill bit + sandpaper on a block. Easiest way with those tools would be to make a one piece neck/body - just adding a back piece when you cut out the sound hole. Would take longer, but very possible. Maybe I'll take up that challenge one day. Sound - its a very thin sound area and quite high octave tuning. Also sounds vastly different whether you have sound hole against body or away from it. Thanks!

[@Dc.Who11]

En Perú ese tipo de instrumento se llama charango tiene las mismas cuerdas a diferencia que lleva una más

[@MikeHawkey]

Gracias. Es muy interesante instrumentos iguales o similares pero diferentes en todo el mundo. Sin duda muchos de los viajeros de la historia llevando consigo sus instrumentos.

[@maxwedekind8992]

What kind of strings did you use? It's sounds very cool

[@MikeHawkey]

Thanks. Strings are fluorocarbon - which is used both for some brands of ukulele strings, but also monofilament fishing line. Traditional Tahitian ukuleles use fishing line. From memory 20-39lb strength.

[@phaetorn]

That is the biggest hole saw in existence

[@MikeHawkey]

It's my biggest anyway!

[@americannerdproject]

Could you make the template available for download? Specifically the fret board. Thanks!

[@MikeHawkey]

Hi, if you scroll down to the bottom of the page of my Mk1 version (linked below) you will see the plan for the one built in the video (print 100% PDF + can also check against measurements in the chart on the PDF): mikehawkey.com/projects/kohoi-aka-slim-jim-8-string-tahitian-style-uke/

[@nathansherby8456]

How thick do you normally make the bodies? Is it 1inch thick stock your using or is it 3/4 inch thick stock?

[@MikeHawkey]

We are technically in metric here, not that that matters- I'd use 1 inch if available and do away with a separate back plate, routing out the sound cavity. But 3/4 with backplate added is possibly the easier construction route so also fine. Thicker will give you more volume but the high octave tuning can come with thin also . Good luck with build!

[@timhallas4275]

Think big-build small.

[@MikeHawkey]

I'll try the reverse some time also!

[@bradreynolds8110]

Awesome ukulele what kind of strings do you use

[@MikeHawkey]

HI, fluorocarbon strings on this unit. Could use any say 'a' strings on all, or buy some quality fishing line fluorocarbon -20pound strength. Thanks.

[@galaxis5294]

I knew he was aussie the second that holden bedsheet came out

[@MikeHawkey]

Close. Kiwi.

[@galaxis5294]

aha. I'm in Adelaid, and it seems that there aren't many Kiwis down here.

[@RayRand]

What makes this a Uke instead of a Mando? It's a very nice piece.

[@MikeHawkey]

Tuning and string type is the main difference really in ggcceeaa. Thanks!

[@topbrasstv8867]

Arthur i have a plan were going to TAHITI we just need MUNEH

[@germanalejandrovazquezdelg811]

Que medidas tiene?

[@tufailbasith6631]

what is strings size or all r same size?

[@Zwaser]

could you share the measurements of the spaces between the strings(the bigger and the smaller gaps)? Going to try make my own but not sure how ill space out the strings, thanks! :)

[@Zwaser]

May have figured it out, 6mm between each pair and 4mm in the middle of the pair? could work right? hahah

[@MikeHawkey]

Nice one. I originally based on a 4 string neck with the gap being where the string would lay. You could even narrow between the pairs a little more. Mine are close to a 2mm gap once all installed but not far off 4mm when you cut and take string thickness into consideration. Good luck with build!

[@Zwaser]

Thank you :)

[@rosangelaaparecidadeassisr8543]

eu gostei de Ukulelê de 8 cordas eu quero aprender a tocar

[@MikeHawkey]

Graças. O mesmo acordes como um ukulele normal, apenas diferentes oitava.

[@rosangelaaparecidadeassisr8543]

você pode fazer um belíssimo ukulele só pra mim deus abençoe

[@MikeHawkey]

Desculpe, família me mantém muito ocupado no momento, mas você pode encontrar planos no meu site! Graças.

[@rosangelaaparecidadeassisr8543]

é verdade

[@rosangelaaparecidadeassisr8543]

é isso mesmo é diferente mesmo